Forever Green has launched the search for our next Co-Director of the Forever Green Initiative. We need the community’s help!
Here’s how:
- Nominate a tenure-track faculty member by completing this form by December 19. Self-nominations are welcome.
- Participate in the public parts of the process.
- If you are a tenure-track faculty member, apply!
Read on for more details.
Why are we bringing on a third Co-Director now? The new Co-Director will serve alongside Nick Jordan and Mitch Hunter until Nick's phased retirement begins in fall of 2026, at which time he will step down from his Co-Director role (but, happily, will continue putting his shoulder to the Forever Green wheel!).
As FG transitions from its roots with co-founders who had tenure and seniority (Nick and the late Don Wyse), we are seeking a new Co-Director who provides similar stability in the academic hierarchy. Therefore, the position is open to current tenure-track UMN professors.
This is a year-round appointment with a time commitment of approximately 8-10 hours per week. Forever Green will provide a 10% salary augmentation, in line with other CFANS leadership roles, and may be able to provide funds to the selected candidate's Department to help reduce the candidate's departmental duties. A full job description can be found here (note that a UMN ID is required).
Please take a few minutes to reflect on which University of Minnesota tenure-track faculty have the potential to be a great leader for Forever Green. We are asking for nominations because we want the Forever Green community to help us identify good candidates.
To submit a nomination:
- Nominations are required and are due by 12/19/2025. Nominations can be submitted with this simple form. Anyone can submit nominations, not just UMN employees. Self-nominations are allowed.
- Nominees will receive an email informing them that they have been nominated and how to apply. The names of the nominators will not be disclosed.
- Applications will be due by 1/16/2026.
- The Search Committee will identify the finalists and invite them for an in-person interview, as well as a public “chalk talk” to share their vision for Forever Green and to interact with key stakeholders from the University of Minnesota and beyond. All participants in these chalk talks will be asked to provide feedback on the candidates to the Search Committee (remember, we need you!). Target timeframe: February.
We are seeking candidates who possess the following skills, proclivities, and characteristics:
- Strategic thinking
- Vision
- Collaboration
- Organizing and leading strategic initiatives
- Scientific leadership with an interdisciplinary approach
- Understanding of and experience with cross-sector innovation processes and strategies
- Compelling communications (i.e., the ability to advance ideas via speaking and writing)
- Fundraising, including from public, private, and philanthropic sources
- Networking with partners including farmers, NGOs, policymakers, companies, etc.
- Fostering a strong sense of inclusion and belonging in collaborative teams
We’re looking forward to welcoming an inspiring new Co-Director to help Forever Green drive broad-based transformation toward Continuous Living Cover agricultural systems in the coming years!